Page 14 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

The Effort To Lead People Into Fitnah

Some people concentrate all their efforts on making believers go astray. Their main
purpose is to make them adopt their own unreasonable way of thinking and beliefs. The Qur’an
informs us that, throughout history, against almost all believers assaults were carried out for this
purpose. All these attacks were planned to weaken the commitment of believers to the
commandments of the Qur’an. Allah states that believers would fall into fitnah if they ever
complied with this plan.
And their purpose was to tempt you away from what We had revealed to you, to
substitute in Our name something quite different; (in that case), behold! They would
certainly have made you (their) friend!
(Al-Isra, 73)

And this (He commands): Judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do
not follow their vain desires, but beware of them lest they lure you away from any of
that (teaching) which Allah has sent down to you. And if they turn away, be assured
that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men
are rebellious.
(Al-Maeda, 49)

For, truly, neither you nor those you worship can lead (any) into temptation
concerning Allah, except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing fire!
(As-Saaffat, 161-163)

Causing Fitnah
In Surat Al-Baqara verses 191 and 217, Allah states fitnah to be “worse than slaughter”. To
have a better understanding of fitnah as an offense, it would be helpful to examine the case of
“killing a man”, an offense described by the Qur’an.

If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein
(forever): And the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty
is prepared for him.
(An-Nisa, 93)

Actually here fitnah has a meaning other than “trial”. It is used for all acts and deeds
leading man astray.
The Qur’an especially refers to hypocrites as the ones who “cause fitnah”. Allah informs us
that hypocrites practise many forms of fitnah; they basically try to prevent believers from
involving themselves in war, hatch plans against the messenger and believers, and try to make
them lose their sense of commitment.
Hypocrites misinterpret the verses, or rather distort the interpretation of verses and only
comply with them, if they are of benefit to them. Believers, on the other hand, assume a totally
different attitude; they demonstrate complete submission whatever the circumstances may be.
He it is Who has sent down the Book to you: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of
established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But
those who have perversity in their hearts follow the part of it that is allegorical,
seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden
meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We
believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord.” And none will grasp the
message except men of understanding.
(Al-Imran, 7)